Girl accepts plea deal for role in Corliss Park robbery, murder

TROY -- One of the two teenage girls charged with luring an Albany man to the Corliss Park Apartment where he was robbed and killed has pleaded guilty to robbery, according to her attorney.

Mariah Zeigler, 17, had been facing murder charges for her part in a conspiracy to lure and rob Takim Smith, whom police believe was targeted for having received a recent legal financial settlement.

Zeigler, who has been in custody since her arrest in February, will serve six years in prison and five years post-release supervision, according to the terms of the plea agreement.

"She pleaded guilty to robbery in the first-degree," said her attorney, Joseph Ahearn. "This is obviously a tragic situation involving some very young adults, and Mariah has accepted responsibility for her limited role and is relieved that the uncertainty is over."

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Ahearn was asked about Zeigler's reaction to the plea agreement, and her state of mind during her incarceration.

"She understands the seriousness of the situation," he said.

Rensselaer County District Attorney Richard McNally said the guilty plea represents a beginning of a resolution in the case.

"The case is still ongoing," McNally said. "We still have six other people in this indictment, but we expect things to move expeditiously in the coming week."

McNally said his office is working with the full faith of Smith's family.

"It's our hope that this [is the] beginning of the end of this horrible chapter for Takim Smith's family and they can move on," he said.

Police said the conspiracy began when Zeigler and another teen, 18-year-old Keyanna Bradley, lured Smith to the Corliss Park Apartment for sex.

Once Smith was undressed, Bradley and Zeigler sent text messages to their co-conspirators, who arrived and demanded money from Smith.

In the scuffle that ensued Smith was stabbed in the neck and torso and died soon after from his wounds.

Making use of surveillance footage obtained from the Troy Housing Authority, police eventually rounded up seven suspects and charged each with conspiracy, robbery, and felony murder.

In addition to Bradley and Zeigler, five others have been indicted in the murder: Eric Mallard, 19, Devonte Alexandar McGill, 18, and three 16-year-olds: Chawn Sheares, Ravenal Gregory Dunbar and Keith Ferguson.

All pleaded not guilty and were remanded without bail and are currently in custody at the Rensselaer County Jail.

Each faces up to 25-years-to-life if convicted.

It was unclear if Zeigler's plea was connected to a promise that she cooperate with prosecutors.